A BRIEF STARTER TUTORIAL... THE FUNDAMENTALS OF HTML AND HOT LINKS TO HELP YOU GET YOUR WEB PAGE ON THE INTERNET.

This area is under development. In the meantime, here's an EXTEREMELY brief starter for you...

Notes

  • Your user_name, login_name, account_name and other like terms all have the same meaning. These terms may be used interchangeably with no change in meaning.
  • Passwords are case sensitive.
  • The default file in your web space is "index.html".
  • Graphic files must be transfered in binary mode. Text/HTML files may be transferred in binary but it is slightly faster to transfer these in ascii.
  • When loggin on to your server space using an ftp client, you should default to your own directory (ie, user/home/your_directory) - don't forget to change to the "public_html" directory prior to uploading files to your server space.
  • When using other people's graphics - download them to your own space - Do NOT reference their server (don't call them into your page from their server). It's rude, it's wrong and it makes it impossible for those contributors of free graphics for the Internet to maintain their fine services!

A BRIEF HTML TUTORIAL:

Each file on this server (non-graphic, non-sound, etc) must have the extension ".html" or "htm" (The first file must be named index.html). This page, for example, is named "tutorial.html". Graphic images must have the extension .gif or .jpg. Other graphic formats will most certainly not work.

Almost every tag is structured with one opening (ie, <xx>) and one closing (ie, </xx>) tag, the noteable difference being the forward slash. The most apparent exception to the rule of opening and closing tags is the forced line feed (<BR>) - this tag never requires a closing. In other words, </BR> does not exist!

Here is a mini tag/structure guideline:

  • <HTML> (this is the very first tag in a document)
  • <HEAD> (this is the second tag in a document - all coding that will not "appear" as part of your page will go in here)
  • <TITLE> (Place the title of your page between these opening and closing tags) </TITLE>
  • </HEAD> (Use this tag to close the "head" [or coding that is not a "visible" part of your site]. This tag usually falls just before the <BODY> tag)
  • <BODY> (this is the opening tag for all content you wish to share with your visitors)
  • <B> (turns "bold" on)
  • </B> (turns bold off)
  • <P> (starts a paragraph)
  • </P> (we close paragraphs but some people believe it isn't necessary)
  • <I> (turns on italics)
  • </I> (turns off italics)
  • <U> (turns on underline)
  • </U> (turns off underline)
  • <H1> (starts header text)
  • </H1> (turns off header text - experiment with <H1> through <H5> - these are variations of possible header fonts)
  • <A HREF="http://www.vonHuene.net/html.html"> making your web page</A> (is the structure for the hyperlink to take you to this making your web page document. If you look at the "address" or "location" window of your browser, you will see the full URL (web site address) of this page is "http://www.vonHuene.net/html.html".
  • <IMG SRC="the_name_of_your_image.extension"> ([where "extension" is either .jpg or .gif - depending upon your image] inserts your image into your document - there is NO closing tag for an image)
  • <A HREF="mailto:your_login@vonhuene.net">your_login@vonhuene.net</A> (is the coding to make a clickable "mail to" on your page - this code allows people to launch their browser's mail program and write to your_login@vonhuene.net directly from your page)
  • </BODY> (Closes the public portion of your document) - this is the second-to-last entry on any HTML document
  • </HTML> (closes your document - this should be the last entry on your web page)

Remember, there are MANY more tags than those shown here and there are MANY excellent HTML help pages out there

GRAPHICS:

Graphics may be obtained in a number of ways. You may create them or you may use graphics from giveaway sites like this one. Some sites offer finished graphics while others provide blank buttons which you can customize for your own needs. Please be aware of and respect terms and conditions on giveaway sites. Download images you use to your own web space. A search of the internet can yield a plethora of graphic giveaway sites.

UPLOADING TO YOUR WEB SPACE:

To place files in your web space you may use your favourite FTP client.

Netscape is very good for uploading files to your space. To log on to your web space use the following expression in the "Location" window of your browser:ftp://your_user_name@vonHuene.net - press enter. You will be prompted for your password. Enter it and you will be presented with a series of folders. Place your files in the folder called "public_html". Files outside of this directory cannot be viewed by the public.

MS Internet Explorer makes creating new folders and deleting files and folders on your server a breeze. Into the "Address" window of your browser, you would enter ftp://your_user_name@vonHuene.net and then proceed to log into your web area as with Netscape.

We cannot recommend a given FTP client at this time. For information about FTP clients,
CLICK HERE FOR WINDOWS NT
CLICK HERE FOR WINDOWS 98
CLICK HERE FOR WINDOWS 95
CLICK HERE FOR MAC